In what is now the largest maritime drug seizure in Mexico’s history, the Mexican Navy successfully seized around 8.3 tons of narcotics in Pacific waters, arresting 23 individuals and capturing six vessels. This historic operation, conducted along the coasts of Michoacán and Guerrero, was a significant win for naval forces, according to a statement released by the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR).
The narcotics, weighing a total of 8,361 kilograms, were spread across six small vessels that were intercepted southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas port. Assisted by a helicopter, naval personnel pursued the boats and confiscated the drugs, marking an important success in combating maritime drug trafficking. Alongside the illicit drugs, the Navy also seized 8,700 liters of fuel, a resource often trafficked by criminal organizations. The total value of the operation is estimated at over 2,099 million pesos (around 105 million US dollars).
One of the most notable aspects of the operation was the capture of a 15-meter-long semi-submersible vessel, commonly known as a narcosubmarine. Powered by three outboard motors, this craft was transporting 93 bundles of drugs, totaling approximately 2,179 kilograms, along with fuel containers. The Navy’s interception of this vessel required a high-risk aerial insertion from a helicopter onto the moving craft, a complex and dangerous maneuver reserved for extreme situations.
According to Navy officials, this drug seizure is the largest carried out at sea. While previous seizures by the Navy have involved larger quantities of drugs, they occurred on land, typically at Pacific ports—a major route for drug trafficking. For instance, in 2007, military forces intercepted 23 tons of cocaine from Colombia, a record-setting confiscation. More recently, on August 23rd, Mexican authorities reported seizing 7.2 tons of narcotics in two separate operations in the same region.
This operation emphasizes the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Mexico, particularly along its Pacific coast, a primary transit route for drugs headed to the United States. Michoacán, where this latest drug seizure took place, is a hotbed of cartel activity, with local groups constantly battling the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Since 2006, when the Mexican government launched its military-backed anti-drug campaign, the country has seen over 450,000 homicides and around 100,000 disappearances, illustrating the deep-rooted violence linked to the drug trade.
